We sat in darkness for over fifteen hours as we chased the sun around the world to Guangzhou, China. In the quiet slumber surrounding me, a deep peace settled over me. If the grace of God has covered you and brought you to this moment, He will continue to carry you forward into this great unknown.
Here I am. Nearly fifty hours of travel and a day slipped behind the curtain of time. I have arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia. The sweet balmy air warms me instantly as the faint fragrance of spices dances around me.
I pause to take in a deep breath and savor the moment.
These beautiful people. This moment in time, where destiny meets preparation. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a season of peace in my life as this has been. I look on these last five months that led to here and am utterly amazed by the grace God has so sumptuously and richly lavished upon me.
What have I done to deserve this? Absolutely nothing, I realize so deep down to my core that I weep in awe, for His goodness to me is a result of who He is, not anything that I could have done.
So many years wrapped in darkness, in struggle and hardship; yet He causes me to emerge extolling the LORD like the Psalmist as I discern His protective, cultivating hand, “even the darkness will not be dark to you…for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12).
No moment of pain is wasted in Your precious sovereignty, for it is producing something of far greater eternal value (2 Corinthians 4:17). O LORD, help me to lay my soul bare and be faithful to tell this story You are writing with my life.
I sit in sweet anticipation, contemplating all the goodness this year may hold. I see again the frailty of my humanity as I momentarily wonder, will Your goodness continue to meet me here? Oh yes, He will meet me here. He will meet me again and again. He will take these weak and wobbly knees of faith and strengthen them.
Your goodness and Your mercy follow me, O LORD. May I be a living testimony. Amen.
